Abstract: A heat press includes a base, a handle, a heater arm, a controller, a lower platen, and an upper platen. The handle is pivotally coupled to the base. The heater arm is pivotally coupled to the base. The controller is pivotally coupled to the handle and the heater arm such that the controller pivots from a first position to a second position during a pivotal movement of the handle from an open position to a closed position. The lower platen is connected to base. The upper platen is connected to the heater arm. A surface of the upper platen is separated from a surface of the lower platen in the open position. The surface of the upper platen is in contact with the surface of the lower platen in the closed position.

Abstract: A heat press includes a base, a handle, a controller, a heater arm, a pressure link, a lower platen, and an upper platen. The handle is pivotally coupled to the base. The controller is integrally formed with the handle. The heater arm is pivotally coupled to the base. The pressure link is pivotally coupled to the handle and the heater arm. The lower platen is connected to base. The upper platen is connected to the heater arm. A surface of the upper platen is separated from a surface of the lower platen in a first position, and the surface of the upper platen is in contact with the surface of the lower platen in a second position.

Abstract: A heat press includes a lower platen and an upper swing arm attached to a base, and an upper platen having a heater therein. The upper platen is coupled to the upper swing arm via a piston rod, and operable via a linkage. The linkage includes a coupler linked between the upper swing arm and a print handle and includes an input link that rotationally couples the print handle to the piston rod such that a motion of the print handle moves the piston rod up or down. The heat press includes a control housing that is electrically coupled to the heater. The upper swing arm is operable to swing the upper platen away from the lower platen when not in contact with the lower platen. The control housing remains in a stationary position regardless of a position of the upper swing arm.

Abstract: A press can include an upper platen, a lower platen, a support arm, and an adjuster. The support arm can be adapted to move the upper platen substantially parallel to the lower paten between an open position and a closed position. The adjuster can have a cam adapted to engage a surface of the support arm and to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to the support arm. Rotation of the cam from the first rotational position to the second rotational position can move the upper platen toward the lower platen.

Abstract: A heat press includes a clutch and a linkage that moves the upper platen relative to the lower platen from a first position to a second position. The distance between the upper and lower platen is less in the second position than in the first position. The clutch is coupled to the linkage and mounted to the upper platen. The clutch is configured to adjust the distance between the upper and lower platens in the second position in response to movement of the upper platen from the first position to the second position being impeded by a work piece positioned between the lower platen and the upper platen.

Abstract: The present invention provide a multi-layered heat transfer sheet comprising a plurality of distinct pieces forming one or more consecutive patterns that form shapes or objects having discontinuous peripheries, as well as a method for producing and/or making said item. The method for forming the heat transfer decorations includes ablating one or more layers of a heat transfer sheet using a defocused laser to define at least one plurality of discrete pieces that together define a heat transfer decoration. A single pass of the defocused laser may ablate the one or more layers of the heat transfer sheet so as to define the discrete pieces.

Abstract: A method of weeding a design in a substrate have a first layer and a second layer is disclosed. The method determines an outline of the design and an inlet portion of the outline. The inlet portion is defined on at least a first and second side by the outline of the design and is open on at least a third side. The method cuts through the first layer but not the second layer along at least a portion of the outline that is not included in the inlet portion. The method also cuts through both the first and second layers along the inlet portion of the outline. The method also cuts through both the first and second layers along a path that closes the third side of the inlet portion.

Abstract: A heat press includes a clutch and a linkage that moves the upper platen relative to the lower platen. A first link is pivotably coupled to the base and pivotably coupled to an intermediate link. The intermediate link can rotate in a first rotational direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position. A first clutch member can be coupled to the intermediate link. A second clutch member can be mounted to the upper platen for common movement with the upper platen. When the intermediate link is in the first rotational position, the clutch can be disengaged to permit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members. When the intermediate link is in the second rotational position, the clutch can be engaged to inhibit relative movement between the first and second clutch members.

Abstract: A press includes an upper platen assembly having a first heating element, a lower platen assembly disposed beneath the upper platen assembly, the lower platen assembly having a second heating element, and a support head adapted to move the upper platen assembly between an open position and a closed position with respect to the lower platen assembly. The press further includes at least one heater controller operatively coupled to the first heating element and to the second heating element, and configured to separately apply power to the first heating element and to the second heating element.

Abstract: A press can include an upper platen, a lower platen, a support arm, and an adjuster. The support arm can be adapted to move the upper platen substantially parallel to the lower platen between an open position and a closed position. The adjuster can have a cam adapted to engage a surface of the support arm and to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to the support arm. Rotation of the cam from the first rotational position to the second rotational position can move the upper platen toward the lower platen.

Abstract: A system includes a transfer press that includes upper and lower platens, and a support head that moves the upper platen between an open and closed position. The system includes a set of sensors for sensing a pressure and a temperature during operation of the transfer press. The system includes a controller that receives the pressure and the temperature, and the controller includes a transceiver communicatively connected to a network to transmit the pressure and temperature. The system includes a first hardware processor communicatively connected to the transfer press via a network, configured to receive the transmitted pressure and temperature from the controller and store in a database. The system includes a second hardware processor communicatively connected to the transfer press and to the database, the second hardware processor configured to revise a temperature and a pressure setting for the transfer press based on data from the database.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for transferring an image to a substrate that includes providing a transfer medium having at least one registration mark; printing an image on the transfer medium; covering the image with a backing layer, the backing layer not covering the registration mark; covering the backing layer with an adhesive layer; penetrating the adhesive layer and the backing layer with a cutting device at locations around the image, the penetrating of the adhesive layer and backing layer not penetrating the transfer medium; removing portions of the adhesive layer and backing layer from the locations around the image; and transferring the image to the substrate.

Abstract: Exemplary presses, e.g., for applying indicia to garments by application of heat, are disclosed. For example, a press may include an upper platen, and a lower platen disposed below and generally aligned with the upper platen. The press may further include a support head adapted to move the upper platen between an open position, wherein the upper and lower platens are spaced away from one another, and a closed position, wherein the upper platen is pressed against the lower platen. Exemplary presses may further include a stand supporting the press.